What guns could be fitted to Great Eastern in an imagined warship conversion?
Short answerOne proposal favors heavy Armstrong breechloaders for their reload rate, with recoil and working space still limiting what the hull could carry.
NotesThe imaginary armed Great Eastern prompts competing suggestions for many small weapons or a conventional number of much heavier guns. The 110-pounder Armstrong breechloader is favored for its rate of reload compared with a muzzleloader. Recoil and available loading space remain constraints even on a very large hull. Estimates of dozens of guns per side belong to the playful proposal and are not a worked-out ship design.